Orientation

Upon arrival in Rabat, AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program students participate in an in-depth, week-long orientation designed to introduce them to Moroccan culture and daily life, and familiarize them with the logistics of the program. During orientation students also are introduced to the principles of intercultural communication.  Students stay in a hotel in central Rabat during orientation, and move to their accommodation for the semester at the end of the first week. The orientation combines structured informational sessions with organized activities and free time to familiarize participants with the city of Rabat. Topics such as safety and health, family life in Morocco, cultural adjustment, program regulations, participant responsibilities and other essential information are all discussed during orientation. During the on-site orientation students also meet their professors, take language placement tests, and become familiar with the program’s IT environment.

Accommodation and Meals

Students enrolled in the AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program in Rabat, Morocco have a choice of living arrangements and meal plans.

OPTION 1: Living with a Moroccan Family – students who select this option will live with a Moroccan family that has been carefully screened by AMIDEAST/Morocco from a database of qualified applicants.

Students usually are placed with a roommate from the AMIDEAST program into families who have previous experience hosting American students through AMIDEAST. Few, if any, families speak English. Most host family members speak Arabic as a first language and also speak French; a small number of family members also speak Spanish or Amazigh (Berber) as well. AMIDEAST matches students in the French Regional Studies Program with strong French speaking families in order to improve language acquisition. Factors such as level of French language ability and willingness to engage with students in French will be considered in the selection of host families for students on this program. While all placement preferences may not be met in every case, AMIDEAST will strive to make the best match to ensure a rewarding and pleasant living experience. In the event of a problem, AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program staff members will be available either to mediate or to arrange a new host family placement. Students living with host families will be provided with all meals by their host families but may find that some days it is not possible to return to the family for lunch because of class schedules.

OPTION 2: Living in a student residence with a Moroccan roommate – students who select this option will live in a private Moroccan student residence hall that opened in 2007. Each double room has a private bathroom and toilet, small refrigerator and cooking facilities and internet access.  There are separate buildings for male and female students and strict gender segregation is enforced.  The residence hall is located in the university quarter of the city and students living there should expect to take public transportation to and from classes. A student cafeteria is located across the street and students may eat there, prepare their own meals in their rooms, or eat in restaurants.

Please note that the availability of residence hall rooms is limited; therefore, AMIDEAST cannot guarantee that students who select this option can be placed there. Students who are not assigned a residence hall room will be placed with host families.

Activities

In addition to the academic program, the AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program in Rabat offers a variety of additional learning opportunities to enhance participants' study abroad experience.

• Civil Society: Students will encounter a variety of Moroccan civil society organizations ranging from political and human rights groups to women’s organizations to sports clubs.  AMIDEAST will organize special activities to facilitate student connections to these organizations.
• Service-learning: AMIDEAST coordinates organized service-learning projects either for individual students or for larger groups. With many connections to a wide range of organizations in Morocco, AMIDEAST can adapt projects individual student interests to ensure a unique and satisfying service-learning experience.
• Cross-cultural learning: AMIDEAST and Mohammed V University-Agdal organize a variety of cross-cultural learning opportunities. Ranging from meet-and-greets to formal presentations, these events give participants the chance to interact with Moroccan students, to learn more about Morocco, and to introduce others to American culture.

Excursions

AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program in Rabat students participate in three program-organized excursions outside of Rabat to visit major cities and historical sites in Morocco. The excursions are coordinated by AMIDEAST/Morocco in conjunction with the program’s academic staff from Mohammed V University-Agdal and are led by a member of the faculty. Organized activities are combined with limited free time, allowing students to explore independently within a safe and structured framework.

• Five days/four nights in Zawiya Ahansal, a rural Amazigh community
• Three days/two nights in and around Fez.
• Three days/two nights in northern Morocco.

Visas and Immigration

American citizens must present a valid passport, but they are not required to obtain a visa to travel to Morocco. Visitors may remain in Morocco for up to three months, after which time they must leave the country or apply for a residency permit. AMIDEAST will coordinate the visa extension process when necessary.
Citizens of other countries should check with AMIDEAST during the application process to ascertain what visa requirements they may face.

Health & Safety

With AMIDEAST’s nearly 60-year presence in the Middle East and North Africa, AMIDEAST Education Abroad Programs are able to draw on AMIDEAST’s long-term experience in the region, strong local connections, and deep understanding of the intercultural, health, safety, and security issues inherent to study in the Arab world.
AMIDEAST provides medical insurance for all enrolled students through HTH Worldwide, as well as medical, political, and security evacuation coverage. AMIDEAST has also contracted with an intelligence provider to assist with monitoring, protecting against, and responding to security issues in the region.

The AMIDEAST Advantage

Guided by an Academic Consortium that represents a cross-section of U.S. higher education, AMIDEAST programs are designed to provide academic excellence. AMIDEAST programs also include ample opportunities to interact with local university students and to reflect on intercultural encounters in structured settings.

Transcripts and Institution of Record

Students in Morocco receive transcripts issued from AMIDEAST’s Academic Partner, Mohammed V University-Agdal in Rabat. Alternatively, students can request (for an additional fee of $350) a transcript issued by AMIDEAST’s Institution of Record (IoR), Northeastern University. Should a home institution advisor indicate that a student needs to use the IoR, the student (or in some cases the institution) will be billed for this fee. This fee is refundable until the student is a confirmed participant.
 

Rabat Address

Street and Mailing Address:
35, Zanqat Oukaimeden
Agdal, Rabat, Morocco